Phoenixville outlasts Pottstown

SCHUYLKILL » Phoenixville entertained Pottstown in a Pioneer Athletic Conference cross country meet Wednesday afternoon.

The Phantoms wound up winning both ends of the meet, 19-45 on the boys’ side and 15-50 on the girls’ side.

Phoenixville seniors Dylan Smiley and Sean McGinnis finished 1-2 for the Phantom boys with Pottstown senior standout Justin Beasley-Turner taking third place on the new 3.1-mile course at Technical College High School’s Pickering Campus.

For the girls, Phoenixville junior Natalee Serwatka led the way with a 20:52 finish to win the race shortly followed by seven Phantoms.

“It was a great win,” said McGinnis, who recently won the prestigious Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University. “It is always great to get awin. The course is flat and fast.

“We all worked really well together.”

The Phantoms also got strong showings from Mike Shaw, Christian Schaaf, Aaron Hin and Jack Armstrong among the top 10 finishers.

Beasley-Turner checked in with the Trojans’ best clocking at 17:51.

“All the courses have a certain degree of difficulty,” said Beasley-Turner. “It will take some time until I find my stride. Eventually, I will get it and I get my time to where I want it to be. I want to get under 17 minutes. That is my goal, and I have not done it yet.”

Beasley-Turner hopes to have his time low enough in order to advance to the District 1 competition.

“I definitely want to make the most of my senior year,” said Besley-Turner.

Smiley and McGinnis are veterans who push each other for Phoenixville.

“We have good competition among the team,” said McGinnis. “There is definitely teamwork there.”

Serwatka was very happy with her time of 20:52 in the girls’ race. She continues to do well in the early going, even though this is her first season of running cross country.

“It is a fast course,” said Serwatka. “There are no hills on it. This is my first year of running cross country. I always liked running. I just decided to give it a try. I have started off well. Mr. (Justin) Winters is a great coach. He is a big help to me.”

Phoenixville took the first seven spots with Victoria Wright and Johnnie Cunninghamtaking 2-3 behind Serwatka.

BARRY TAGLIEBER — FOR THE MERCURY Phoenixville senior Sean McGinnis came in first place during the Phantoms’ cross country meet against Pottstown Wednesday. At right, Phoenixville’s Natalee Serwatka took first place in the girls meet.